Several brothers from the west coast of Texas recently traveled to Waco to attend the 190th Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas. What began as a simple road trip quickly turned into a memorable journey—filled with laughter, sunshine, and, of course, a generous supply of hard candies. Picture gallery below.
Our group arrived late Thursday evening and immediately found ourselves reconnecting with Brethren in the hotel lobby, including some I had not seen in over twenty years. Those spontaneous reunions set the tone for the weekend ahead.
Friday began early, with a 5:00 AM start as we suited up, shared breakfast, and headed to the Grand Lodge building. A small issue at the registration desk was quickly resolved, serving only to introduce us to more Brethren and add another good story to the weekend’s collection.
The business of Grand Lodge was conducted efficiently and, for the most part, without drama. We attended the Grand Master’s Banquet and had the opportunity to tour the Lee Lockwood Scottish Rite Museum & Library. Meals at several local Waco restaurants were a highlight, as was the simple joy of seeing Brethren from across Texas walking the streets together, gathering at local eateries in fellowship. I did not record the official count, but over heard there was between 3,000 – 3,900 people in attendance.
Additionally, Grand Lodge of Texas officers are:
- GM: Jim Rumsey
- DGM: Justin Duty
- GSW: Chip Green
- GJW: John Wilkerson
Yes, Stoney LaRue is Grand Musician. I know – that’s really cool!!!
District 93-A:
- DDGM- Chris Felton
- DEO- James Clark
- DCO- Steve Sperry
- DI- Jeremy Hogan (also DDGM for 97)
District 93-B:
- DDGM- Matthew Reynolds
- DEO- Jacob Ashdown
- DCO- Ray Copeland
- DI- Charles Smith
2026 Resolution Results:
- Res 1 withdrawn
- Res 2 withdrawn
- Res 3 pass
- Res 4 withdrawn
- Res 5 passed
- Res 6 passed
- Res 7 passed
- Res 8 passed
- Res 9 passed
- Res 10 passed
- Res 11 passed
- Res 12 passed
- Res 13 tabled
- Res 14 postponed
- Res 15 failed
- Res 16 passed
- Res 17 postponed
- Res 18 amendment not adopted – but original resolution passed
- Res 19 postponed
- Res 20 withdrawn
- Res 21 passed
- Res 22 withdrawn
- Res 23 passed
- Res 24 passed
After two full days of events and camaraderie, we returned to Lubbock at a more leisurely pace on Sunday. It was a truly rewarding weekend and one that sets a positive tone for the year ahead.
Best wishes for a relaxing year to R.W. Reader and his team, and may peace and harmony continue to prevail under the leadership of M.W. Rumsey and his officers. It is truly a great time to be a Texas Mason.
